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ST. LOUIS – Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga pinpointed a fastball on the inside corner to the Cardinals’ Willson Contreras, nicking the top of the strike zone. Contreras’ whiff spun him all the way around for strike three.
It was Imanaga’s first game back after more than seven weeks on the injured list, and didn’t appear to have any rust to shake off. In the Cubs’ 3-0 win Thursday, he held the Cardinals to one hit in five scoreless innings.
“I was very grateful because during my rehab process, the team was playing really well,” Imanaga said through Japanese interpreter Edwin Stanberry.